In preparation for its fifth and final season on A&E, we have chosen these as the Top 10 moments from past years of “Bates Motel.” So take a relaxing stroll down memory lane in Norma’s nightgown as the Bates Motel prepares for its final guests.
-By Robert Pius
Season 1, Episode 1 – “First You Dream, Then You Die”
In the first episode Norma Bates proves she is not someone to be easily messed with when she murders an intruder who has raped her.
Season 1, Episode 10 – “Midnight”
In the first season finale Norman’s teacher invites him to her house where Norman has a hallucination of Norma who explains that the teacher is trying to seduce him.
Season 2, Episode 2 – “Shadow of a Doubt”
Norma convinces Norman to join a community theater group with her but Norman doesn’t want to go through with it. The two argue about it outside the theater. The incident is pivotal since it is the first time Norma confronts Norman about there being something wrong with him. It is also the first time in the series that Vera Farmiga and Freddie Highmore get to really argue and show the full force of their talents as actors.
Season 2, Episode 10 – “The Immutable Truth”
Norman has to take a polygraph test in regards to Miss Watson’s murder. He is able to pass the test truthfully because he becomes Norma in his mind. Norma didn’t kill her, but Norman did.
Season 3, Episode 6 – “Norma Louise”
Freddie Highmore delivers a memorable moment by not only dressing as Norma Bates but also delivering a spot-on imitation of Vera Farmiga’s mannerisms and speaking style.
Season 4, Episode 1 – “A Danger to Himself and Others”
Norman is locked in a state asylum after he is found rambling and incoherent by a local farmer. A female psychiatrist refuses to release him to Norma and accuses her of neglecting the boy’s needs by not seeking help for his mental condition. Norma is unable to manipulate the woman like she usually is able to do with male authority figures.
Season 4, Episode 1 – “A Danger to Himself and Others”
Norma continues her self-centered manipulation of the sheriff by asking him to marry her so that Norman will be included on his health insurance and admitted to a private mental hospital.
Season 4, Episode 6 – “The Vault”
Norman transforms into Norma in front of his caring new doctor at the private mental institution Norma had put him in. The doctor recognizes Norman’s problem as dissociative identity disorder (or more commonly called multiple personalities) and wants to help Norman recover.
Season 4, Episode 9 – “Forever”
It is a rare moment when a TV series kills off its lead performer, but that is what the show did in 2016. Norman tries to kill himself and his mother by having gas released into the household while they were sleeping. Norman survives the suicide attempt, but his mother does not.
Season 4, Episode 10 – “Norman”
The season ends with Norman picturing a perfect Christmas celebration at home where both the murdered Norma and his deceased dog Juno return to life.
Rihanna stars as Marion Crane in the fifth and final season.
We know nothing good happens at “Bates Motel” in that shower.
Noman is still seeing Norma, which means the audience will get more of Vera Farmiga.
